The University of Pennsylvania Quakers are officially back on the ice for the start of the 2024-25 season.
After Friday night’s tilt against Scranton was canceled, the Ivy League matchup against Columbia was the first in the Class of 1923 Arena.
The Quakers are coming off of their 3rd consecutive CSCHC win and know that the stakes are high this season. The team was ready for their first opponent.
“The team is fired up to face an Ivy League opponent. It’s not very often we get an opportunity to represent the University in this way and we will stand up to challenge,” said Head Coach Alec Artosky.
While the Quakers were unable to take the win, they came out quick and strong.
Graduate student Yongwoo Park broke the ice scoring seven minutes in. Columbia answered the call just three minutes later with a powerplay goal by Chris Lerner. But the Quakers regained the lead with a goal by Christian Ford to close out the 1st.
It was Park again for the Quakers, notching a shorthanded goal about halfway into the second frame. But the Columbia Lions were able to cut the lead to one goal closing out the period 3-2.
Brandon Auezou scored his 2nd goal of the night early into the 3rd period giving the Lions a tie game. But Park was not done: He scored his third goal of the night to regain the Quakers lead.
Sophomore Chris Bugliosi brought the Quakers lead back up to two goals making it 5-3 about halfway into the final period.
Baker Fox scored for the Lions, once again cutting the lead down to one. His goal was followed by Cal Robinson who earned his team a tie.
Less than a minute later AJ Moshyedi scored for the Quakers taking back the lead, but it was quickly followed by two goals off the stick of Columbia’s Brendon Preskar.
Jacob Qian scored an even-strength goal for the Quakers with under two minutes to go, sending the teams into overtime with seven a piece.
It was the Lions who escaped the final period with the win, with Chris Lerner scoring his 2nd of the night for the game-winning-goal ending the contest at 8-7.
Sophomore goaltender Reagan O’Neil faced 57 shots, with the Quakers tallying 36 over four periods of play.
Despite the loss, the team is ready to take on their future opponents in hopes of making it to another championship appearance.
“We are really looking forward to defending our title as league champions and making another push to the regional tournament,” said Artosky.
“We have a young and talented team that is capable of stepping up to challenge and filling the shoes of the seniors that graduated. This season we will play to our strengths and utilize our speed and our intellect to win games.”
The Quakers will host Rider on Friday Sept. 27 before heading to Stockton the next night.